Waterproof watch casing



WATERPROOF WATCH CASING Filed June 20, 1960 United States Patent() 3,030,763 WATERPROOF WATCH CASING Hans U. Klingenberg, Alfermee, Biel, Switzerland Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,304 Claims priority, application Switzerland June 23, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 58-90) The present invention relates to new and novel improvements in waterproof watch casings and relates particularly to a vacuum sealed watch casing wherein the bottom of the watch casing or the crystal is sealingly held in place by a vacuum action against a sealing member disposed in the central casing part.

It has been proposed to vacuum seal a watch casing so as to prevent moisture from penetrating the inside of the casing as well as to prevent, in the instance of temperature or pressure differences, a condensation from forming on the inner surface of the crystal. However, such approaches involve the use of valves which are mounted in the watch casings to withdraw the air from-the inside of the casings. Such constructions are very complicated vand expensive.

Other constructions involve the use of other additional parts and include a mechanical means for engaging the crystal. They further involve the luse of indicator means, for example, small `manometers, which are used for the purpose of insuring a continuous control of the vacuum or the moisture content of the air inside the casing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum watch casing which can be assembled in a very simple and eicient manner and which will be extremely effective in controlling without the use of additional parts the vacuum seal of the casing.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof watch casing wherein the connection between the casing part, either the crystal or the bottom part, and the central casing part is effected solely and exclusively by means of a vacuum existing in the casing.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling the waterproof watch casing. The crystal is laid freely upon a sealing ring disposed on the watch casing part and the complete Watch casing is then placed into a vacuum chamber or container. The vacuum chamber or container has a stem or pusher which can be pushed down vertically by pressing it down from the outside of the vacuum chamber.

When the vacuum is created in the chamber or container, the air in the watch casing escapes automatically at the edges of the crystal where the latter touches the gasket or sealing ring of the lower center/bottom part. Indeed, the crystal laying idle upon the casing part, is uplifted -by the escaping air.

Once the vacuum is established in such a way, then the stem or pusher reaching down into the vacuum chamber or container, is pushed or pressed down upon the crystal, in order to rmly connect the crystal with the sealing ring and the lower casing part.

Then, the chamber or container is vented to the atmosphere and the watch casing is removed from the vacuum chamber. The casing is now a unit with the crystal and casing being pressed together firmly and permanently.

These and ancillary objects are obtained by this invention, the preferred embodiments of which are set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken through the watch casing, and,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a larger scale of a second form.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings and, initially to lFIGURE l, the watch casing ICC includes a central casing part 2 and an integral bottom part 1. The central casing part 2 has a mounting 2a which includes a shoulder on which a sealing ring 4 is seated. The sealing ring provides a seat for the crystal 3 and the crystal, without the use of any other fastening means, is held tightly against the sealing ring 4 by virtue solely of the vacuum existing in the watch casing.

` The watch casing is assembled in a very simple and effective manner. The crystal is laid freely upon a sealing ring disposed on the watch casing part and the complete watch casing is then placed into a vacuum chamber or container. The vacuum chamber or container has a stem or pusher which can be pushed down vertically by pressing it down from the outside of the vacuum chamber.

When the vacuum is created in the chamber or con# tainer, the air in the watch casing escapes automatically at the edges of the crystal where the latter touches the gasket or sealing ring of the lower center/bottom part. Indeed, the crystal laying idle upon the casing part, is `uplifted by the escaping air. Y

Once the vacuum is established in such a way, then the stem or pusher reaching down into the vacuum chamber or container, is pushed or pressed down upon the crystal, in order to rmly connect the crystal with the sealing ring and the lower casing part.

Then, the chamber or container is vented to the atmosphere and the watch casing is removed from the vacuum chamber. The casing is now a unit with the crystal and casing being pressed together firmly and permanently.

It is not necessary to provide any indicator means to indicate the presence of a vacuum in the casing since the crystal 3 would fall from its seat if there was not a vac-v uum present in the casing: Thus, this affords, without ad-v ditional expenditure, a means for exercising a control for maintenance of the vacuum inside the casing.

In the form of FIGURE 2, a protective crystal 5 is provided and is permanently secured by means of an undercut mounting 2b to the central casing part 2. The protective crystal is seated on a sealing ring which is mounted on a shoulder and is permanently held in place by the undercut 2b. The crystal 5 is snapped into its position in the usual manner. The crystal 5 is provided with an opening 5a which communicates the space outside the crystal with the interior of the watch casing. The crystal 3 overlies the crystal 5 and there is a space between the two crystals which space is in communication through the opening 5a with the interior of the watch casing.

The central casing part 2 is formed with a rim 2c which has an upwardly and inwardly extending undersurface that extends over the edge of the crystal 3. The dimensions are chosen in such a way that the underside of the rim does not touch the upper surface of the crystal when the latter is properly held tightly in place by the vacuum existing in the watch casing.

The manner of assembling the watch casing of FIG- URE 2 is the same as that described in connection with the watch casing of FIGURE l.

Also, in this case, the collapse of the vacuum in the inside of the casing and due to the opening 5a, also inthe space between the crystal 5 and the crystal 3 would result in the crystal 3 becoming detached from its seat. However, the rim 2c prevents it from being completely separated from the watch casing.

In the two embodiments, which are illustrated in the drawings, the crystal constitutes the casing part that is held against the sealing member solely by the existence of the vacuum in the watch casing. However, it would be possible to connect the crystal rmly in an air-tight fashion with the central casing part and secure the bottom part to the central casing part solely by the use of the vacuum existing in the watch casing.

Also, while in the illustrated embodiments, the bottom part is shown in one piece with the central casing part of i' excess pressure existing between the two casings would prevent the crystal from falling out by reasons other than collapse of the vacuum inside the second casing.

From'the foregoing, it is to be understood that the various embodiments will provide a vacuum type waterproof watch casing that can lbe fabricated in a simple manner which, without the use of additional parts, will hold the crystal tightly in place. It will also afford the possibility of controlling the maintenance of the vacuum in the interior of the watch casing.

I claim:

l. A waterproof watch casing comprising a cup-shaped part having a first shoulder, a first sealing member positioned on the shoulder, a protective crystal seated on the solely by a vacuum existing in the casing and a holding means overlying the edge of the crystal and spaced from the crystal when the crystal-is held in place properly by the vacuum.

3. A waterproof watch casingrcomprising a cup-shaped part having a peripheral wall portion adapted for receiving a watch movement, an annular lodging formed in saidV peripheral wall portion, and a cover member adapted for closing said cup-shaped part and having a peripheral por-` tion adapted for being freely located within said vannular lodging, said cover member being held in closing position solely by means of a vacuum existing in the casing.

4. A waterproof watch casing comprising a cup-shaped part having a peripheral wall portion adapted for receivsealing member and having an opening, a second shoulder l part having a lirst shoulder, a rst sealing member positioned on the shoulder, a protective crystal seated on the sealing member and vhaving an opening, a second shoulder formed on said cup-shaped part above the rst shoulder, a second sealing member positioned thereon, a crystal seated on the second sealing member and held thereon ing a watch movement, an annular lodging formed in said peripheral wall portion, a sealing member accommodated in said annular lodging, and a cover member adapted for closing said cup-shaped part and having a peripheral portion adapted for being freely located within said annular lodging, above said sealing member, said cover member being held in closing position solely by means of a vacuum existing in the'casing and said sealing member thereby being 'pressed between said cup-shaped part and said cover member.

5. A waterproof watch casing as claimed in claim 4, said annular lodging being formed by an inner shoulder of said cup-shaped part.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Apr. 30, 1959 

